How to Pronounce “classification”

American (US)

/ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

noun — The act of forming into a class or classes; a distribution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or attributes.

Where the stress falls. “classification” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "classification" mean?

classification (noun): The act of forming into a class or classes; a distribution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or attributes.

What is the IPA transcription of "classification"?

/ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ in American English.

Which syllable is stressed in "classification"?

“classification” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.